Golden City (3)

A girl was sitting beneath a ceiling decorated with elaborate craftsmanship.

Estelle, the head of the Golden Carriage Company.

Her silver hair, looking to be about ten years old, fluttered in the breeze. Too young to be called the head of a trading company. But there was a depth in those eyes that didn’t belong to a child.

,This wine was brought from the Elf Forest. I thought Haru-ssi would like it…”

Estelle carefully placed a wine glass in front of me. Then, she poured milk into the glass in front of her. The sight of her childlike and mature sides coexisting made me laugh.

,What do you know about picking wine? You’re just a kid.”

When I chuckled, Estelle’s cheeks flushed red.

,I… I’ll be an adult soon too! Father said that if I’m going to be the head of the trading company, I need to know how to pick wine…”

Estelle shyly gulped down her milk. A white milk mustache remained on her lips.

,You’ve got milk on your face.”

,Ah!”

She hurriedly wiped her mouth. Even though she was the best trading company head in the city, she was still just a ten-year-old kid.

,Still, the hospitality is excellent, befitting the best trading company in the city.”

The table was full of delicacies. Drake sirloin steak served on golden plates, and cheese aged with divine power.

Instantly, Nia’s ears perked up. Her black tail wagged suspiciously.

,Elf…? Haru-nyang doesn’t like that stuffnyang! What Haru hates the most are elves, dragons, and the Goddess Ordernyang!”

,I do? Since when?”

After a while of eating, Estelle put down her fork. The atmosphere became heavy.

,Now… this kind of meal might be the last.”

Estelle often stared blankly into space. She looked like a child carrying a heavy load that didn’t suit her.

,What’s going on, with those assassins from earlier and all…?”

,Father… suddenly passed away.”

Estelle’s voice trembled.

,They said it was a sudden accident. But I… I don’t think so.”

Her fingertips trembled. Her eyes turned as cold as moonlight.

,At first, my uncles and cousins said they would help me. Saying, ‘How can you, a child, lead the trading company’…”

Tears welled up in Estelle’s eyes.

,But when I refused, they changed completely. They got angry, looked for weaknesses… Now… they’re even after my life.”

Her shoulders trembled faintly in the moonlight.

,The Azure Dragon Society and the Diamond Blades have also started to move. Using the details of their transactions with my father as an excuse… they’re trying to tear the Golden Carriage Company to shreds.”

Estelle stood up. Her small silhouette was visible in the moonlight.

,Haru-ssi… I heard you’re a legendary hero. Please… help me.”

Earnestness filled her eyes. Too heavy a gaze for a ten-year-old girl.

,I’m… all alone now. My father is gone, and there’s no one I can trust…”

Her last words trailed off. Estelle’s shoulders trembled in the moonlight.

Suddenly, Nia’s claws flashed. Her black tail puffed up menacingly.

,So? You want to protect the trading companynyang?”

Tears welled up in Estelle’s eyes.

,If Haru-ssi helps me… I’ll give you everything I have. This trading company, even my life…”

Her last words trailed off. Her shoulders trembled in the moonlight.

,Please… help me.”

,Haru-nyang! Let’s go-nyang! We shouldn’t get involved in thisnyang!”

But I didn’t get up from my seat. Nia’s ears perked up.

,Don’t tell me… again?”

,I’ll help you.”

Estelle’s eyes sparkled. Nia’s tail wagged furiously.

,Haru-nyang! Are you helping her again because she’s a womannyang?!”

,No, it’s not that…”

,Then what is itnyang?”

Nia’s claws scratched the table. A sharp sound echoed.

,Because… I’m a hero.”

Nia’s eyes twinkled suspiciously. But I smiled.

,I can’t just ignore someone who needs help, can I?”

,Haru-nyang… you’re acting strange suddenlynyang.”

Her black ears twitched suspiciously. Nia climbed onto the table and came right up to my face.

,Since when were you such a righteous heronyang? Haru-nyang isn’t usually like thatnyang…”

Nia sighed. Her black tail drooped as if resigned.

,Are you hiding somethingnyang?”

It was a sharp intuition. As expected, my partner who had fought with me for five years was different.

Nia’s tail wagged suspiciously. Her golden eyes tried to read every expression on my face.

,Hiding something? Don’t you trust me?”

,Alrightnyang… if Haru-nyang says so…”

Estelle’s face brightened. Moonlight seeped through her silver hair.

,Thank you so much! I will definitely repay this…”

,But!”

Nia suddenly jumped up. Her golden eyes sparkled dangerously.

,Don’t go after Haru-nyang! Haru-nyang is Nia’s butler, so…!”

Nia’s tail wagged threateningly in the moonlight. Estelle smiled.

We gathered and started a strategy meeting.

,What should we do…”

Estelle’s sigh echoed in the conference room. Nia sat by the window where the moonlight shone, wagging her tail.

,Ah! That’s itnyang!”

Suddenly, Nia jumped up. Her golden eyes twinkled playfully.

,Did you come up with something?”

,You know that thing we took from the Diamond Blades headquarters last timenyang!”

My head throbbed for a moment. That theft back then?

,Wait, I said we should only take what we absolutely need back then.”

,Of course, I only took what we needednyang!”

Nia grinned and took out a bundle of documents. Her black tail swayed with victorious joy.

,Now that it’s needed… it was something we needednyang!”

I was speechless at the shameless cat’s logic.

,Let’s see…”

Estelle’s eyes widened as she scanned the documents.

,This is… the Diamond Blades’ secret ledger?”

,Nyangnyang! From the exploitation of mine workers to illegal transactions… it’s all herenyang!”

Nia said proudly, wagging her tail.

,As expected… the legendary great thief, Black Cat Nia-nim! They say you robbed three cities in one day!”

,Praising me won’t do you any goodnyang! No… can you do it some morenyang?”

Nia wagged her tail at Estelle’s praise.

I sighed. This shameless cat.

,Enough with the bragging, if we use this to pressure the Diamond Blades…”

,They won’t be able to refuse either.”

Estelle’s eyes shone coldly.

,It’s time to move.”

We refined our plan in the carriage heading to the Diamond Blades headquarters.

,Chairman, we have an urgent guest!”

When we barged in, the trading company’s guard rushed over in a hurry. But it was already too late.

,This is…”

The Diamond Blades’ head of the trading company’s face turned pale. The document in his hand trembled.

,It’s a misunderstanding. It’s all a misunderstanding!”

,A misunderstanding… with this mountain of evidence?”

When I smiled coldly, cold sweat formed on his forehead.

,A-Alright. I won’t touch the Golden Carriage Company’s territory. Please…”

The Diamond Blades surrendered. But this was just the beginning.

,So, what about the Azure Dragon Society…”

Estelle opened her mouth worriedly.

,There won’t be any evidencenyang.”

Nia yawned, cutting me off. Her black tail wagged as if she was bored.

,The Azure Dragon Society… they’re different.”

I muttered, scanning the documents spread out on the table. They were a different kind of opponent than the Diamond Blades.

,Since they’re from a pirate background, they’ll be more thorough. They wouldn’t have left any documents… The evidence of their corruption is already at the bottom of the sea.”

Estelle’s voice grew smaller and smaller.

Kung-

Suddenly, the conference room door opened. The secretary rushed in with a pale face.

,It’s a disaster! The Azure Dragon Society… has deployed armed forces near the port…!”

,How many?”

,A… About a hundred, I think.”

Estelle’s face turned white at the secretary’s words. But I started to laugh.

,Great. This is easier.”

,Yes? But…”

Estelle looked at me with surprised eyes.

,Estelle, this is our chance.”

She tilted her head at my words.

,What…?”

,It’s hard to find evidence, but they drew their swords first, right? Now we have self-defense.”

,So what are you going to do?”

,It’s simple. We draw our swords too.”

As always, Nia wagged her tail beside me.

,This is more our style than finding evidence and threatening them. Right, Nia?”

,Nyangnyang! Let’s do what Haru-nyang does bestnyang!”

Suddenly, Nia’s ears perked up. A dangerous light flashed in her golden eyes.

,But… the Azure Dragon Society’s armed group is a notorious elite force even in our Golden Haven!”

,Nyangnyang! Have you already forgottennyang? Who we are?”

Estelle’s eyes lit up with hope.

Yes, this was a situation that required the hero to step in.

,Well, let’s go.”

I got up from my seat.

On the way to the port, Nia’s tail wagged excitedly.

,Haru-nyang! It’s over therenyang!”

The Azure Dragon Society’s armed forces were occupying the port. Elite soldiers with all traces of the pirates who roamed the seas perfectly erased.

,At this rate… about 5 minutes?”

,Nyangnyang! It’ll only take 3 minutesnyang!”

Nia’s claws flashed like moonlight.

,Well, let’s get started.”

When I drew the Holy Sword, the enemies rushed at me all at once. But…

Hwik-

A black shadow flashed past like lightning. Nia’s claws swept up the enemies.

Kung-

My Holy Sword finished off the rest. Our five years of honed teamwork was perfect.

,T-This is… even an S-class adventurer couldn’t do this! What did you hire!”

The Azure Dragon Society’s executive asked in a trembling voice.

I smiled, pointing the Holy Sword at his neck.

,Hmm… It’s a combination of a hero and a cat.”

,I surrender! Please…”

,Keep moving forwardnyang! Nia will take care of the restnyang!”

,That… that ship…”

The Azure Dragon Society’s battleship was docked at the port. Their flag fluttered in the moonlight.

,Let’s raid their headquartersnyang! Since we’ve come this far, let’s finish it for goodnyang!”

,Alright, let’s go.”

We ran across the deck. The Holy Sword and claws took turns sweeping up the enemies.

,Now all that’s left is…”

We stood in front of the Azure Dragon Society headquarters. Nia’s tail wagged playfully.

,You guys better make the same choice as the Diamond Blades.”

The executives’ faces turned pale. Looking at the armed forces sprawled on the floor, they seemed to have already made their decision.

It didn’t even take an hour to occupy the Azure Dragon Society’s headquarters.

,That’s itnyang! It’s all overnyang!”

Nia wagged her tail with satisfaction. The moonlight shone on our shoulders.

,Haru-ssi…”

Estelle said in an emotional voice.

,The Golden Carriage Company is safe now. It’s all thanks to you!”

The afterglow of victory was brief, and there was still finishing work to be done.

A few days later, a night when the sunlight shone on the golden table.

,Now it’s the end.”

Estelle’s sigh echoed in the conference room. It was a night when the moonlight shone on the golden table.

,My uncles and cousins have played their last card, they say.”

The secretary came in and reported. His expression wasn’t good.

,They hired an S-class adventurer?”

Estelle’s voice trembled. The ten-year-old girl’s shoulders looked heavy.

,It’s the last struggle of those who are after the position of head of the trading company…”

Nia perked up her ears at the secretary’s words. Her tail wagged playfully.

,Nyangnyang! I wonder what kind of guys they arenyang!”

,It’s ‘Red Blades’.”

Instantly, Nia’s tail stiffened. Her golden eyes shone sharply.

,The sword demons who are active on the front lines against the demons…”

Estelle’s face turned pale. S-class adventurers. Their names echoed throughout the continent.

,Haru-ssi… this time it might be really dangerous.”

Estelle’s voice trembled. But I started to laugh.

,Don’t worry. It’s a good thing, actually.”

,Yes?”

Nia grinned.

,So-nyang, what should we do nownyang?”

,We just have to wait.”

***

,I see you still haven’t given up.”

Estelle’s voice echoed in the conference room. Estelle’s uncle, who had suddenly come to visit, leaned back leisurely in his chair.

,Since you’re not giving up, I can’t help it. What trading company are you, a child, going to lead…”

,Are you looking down on me because I’m young?”

Estelle’s eyes turned as cold as moonlight.

,Hehe… I see you’ve finally realized reality. You’re still…”

,My father believed in me.”

Estelle’s firm voice distorted her uncle’s smile.

,Your brother is dead! There’s no one to look after you now!”

,So you hired an S-class adventurer?”

Estelle’s words made her uncle grin. Greed flashed in his eyes.

,They are heroes who fight demons. They are on a different level than your clumsy guards…”

Kung-

The door opened and S-class adventurers entered. Their dark red armor gleamed in the moonlight.

,Well, let’s start…”

Her uncle’s words stopped. The faces of the sword demons belonging to the Red Blades turned pale.

,H-Hero?”

,Long time no see, Leo.”

When I smiled, their faces turned even whiter.

,Nyangnyang! It’s been a whilenyang!”

Nia jumped onto the table. Her black tail wagged dangerously.

Leo’s body trembled. He seemed to remember being tricked by Nia.

,Black Claw… don’t tell me you too…”

Leo glared at her uncle.

,You’re telling us to fight the hero party…?”

His hand grabbed his sword and then let go.

,The contract is invalid. Let’s go.”

The S-class adventurers hurriedly left the room. Her uncle’s last resort also collapsed in vain.

,What is this…”

Her uncle staggered up from his seat. He headed for the door with weak steps.

,Wait, Uncle.”

Estelle called out. Her eyes were as cold as moonlight.

,It’s time for you to give up too, Uncle.”

,Y-You!”

At that moment, Nia took a step forward. Her claws glowed faintly.

,Or should Nia persuade you directlynyang?”

,U-Ugh!”

Her uncle screamed and ran away. The door slammed shut.

,Haa…”

Estelle sighed in relief. Fatigue crossed her young face.

,Is it really over now?”

,Yes. It’s time to become a true head of the trading company.”

Brilliant sunlight shone on her silver hair. The last obstacle had also disappeared.

,Nyangnyang! Congratulationsnyang!”

Nia’s tail wagged happily. Then, she suddenly glared at Estelle with sharp eyes.

,But! There are rules from now onnyang!”

,Rules…?”

Estelle blinked.

,You can’t hug Haru-nyang to thank himnyang! You definitely can’t fall in lovenyang! You absolutely can’t call him late at nightnyang… You can’t pour him drinks eithernyang…”

,Nia, stop…”

,You absolutely can’t be alone with Haru-nyangnyang! Eye contact is limited to 3 seconds! Haru-nyang’s intelligence drops when there’s a woman in front of himnyang.”

,Hey, what do you think I am?”

,Still… I need to repay Haru-ssi…”

As soon as Estelle opened her mouth, Nia’s ears perked up.

,Nyang?! Are you saying you’re going to repay Haru-nyang’s kindness nownyang?!”

,N-No! I just…”

,We don’t need anything like thatnyang! We’re leaving nownyang!”

Nia grabbed my sleeve. Her black tail swished impatiently.